Tweakers' Asylum Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ.

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Multimeters for Tweaksters

Posted by nightdoggy on July 24, 2007 at 09:01:17

First off, if you are an audiophile and you do not have a digital multimeter, you should buy one right away. For the price of a few boutique capacitors, you could have a good meter that will last for years. Not testing or matching caps for example is being penny wise and pound foolish.
I got my first analog meter (Simpson 260) in '74 and my first DMM in '80. It (Keithley 130) still works perfectly today, although I now have 14 meters for different tasks. As a hands on audio nut, I cannot see living without one.
Handheld (portable) meters are a must for audio use. Benchtop meters are fine for stationary bench use. Today's handheld meters pack features and performance that would have cost a fortune 20 years ago.
I've picked out the meters I feel to be the best in their street price ranges. The list prices are higher than the prices you see here. Email me for the best places to buy the meters at these prices.
Do not buy off of ebay! You're only asking for trouble and the so called "new/sealed" meters cost no less than buying from reputable on-line dealers.
I have and use the meters listed and they are all excellent. The lower priced meters here pack a lot of punch for little $ because they are made offshore. They are designed in the USA and are generally made in company staffed or owned plants:

$15-$59 - It's amazing that this amount of money can get you any test and measurement equipment at all. Select a Amprobe, B&K, Extech or Tenma and you'll get decent performance for the $.
$60 - Extech EX411: True RMS and manual ranging. Ruggedized. I love it.
$98 - Amprobe (a Fluke Co.) XR37A. This meter has it all in addition to RCL. Very large.
$120 - Fluke 115: You cannot go wrong with a Fluke and the 115 is a gem for very little $.
$180 - Fluke 175: This meter also has everything the audiophile needs and is extremely accurate.
$290 - Fluke 87-V: If you want the best or close, this is it.
$450 - Agilent U1252A - The Ferrari of mutimeters if you have plenty of cash.
Also get a case for your meter. The made to fit cases by the meters' companies are in the $20-$30 range. The Craftsman DMM case is a steal at only $8.99.
doggy

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